Baylor's Johnathan Motley Confident Being Big 12's Best Big

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Johnathan Motley has set the bar high this season. Not only does he want to be labeled as the Big 12’s best big man, but he has goals of challenging for the conference's player of the year and earning All-American status.

A 6-foot-10 junior, Motley has seen his stock soar with more experience. Averaging 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks, the Baylor center led the Big 12 with .614 field goal percentage and made all nine of his starts at the end of the year.

“Up to this point J-Mot's been one of those players that's gotten better each and every year,” Bears head coach Scott Drew said at Big 12 Media Day on Tuesday. “Very similar to Taurean Prince, somebody who was ranked 25th in the state. Was going to Long Island University, and didn't start until his senior year and ended up being the 12th pick in the draft. 

“So J-Mot's gotten better every year, now we're looking for more consistency out of him. And I think he'll have that opportunity playing time-wise, because he's the man now as far as experience-wise goes. He's had some great games. But now we just need him each and every night. And that's what experience does is it helps you be consistent.”

FloHoops’ Brett Regan went one-on-one with Motley at Big 12 Media Day.